News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-20
An Interesting Letter.
FROM AN Ex-coNFEDERATE SOLDIER.

FROM AN EX-CONFEDERATE SOLDIER
The following letter, received in reply
to an invitation to be present at the re-
cent campfire of Co. A, Sth VT. Regt.,
at Capt. McFarland's in Watervllle,
evinces the true spirit and speaks vol
umes, coming as it does from one OF the
bravest officers of Stonewall Jacksons
s'old brigade" 1t may be interesting to
say that the writer, Capt. Mutton, was
all through the various campaigns IN
the Shenandoah Valley, and was on the
extreme right of the Confederate army
at the battle of Cedar Creek, facing
Capt. Mcfarland in the terrible corner
on that awful morning when the 8th
VT in forty minutes time lost in killed,
wounded and prisoners, 123 out of 1854
engaged. Capt. Mutton is the efficient
clerk of the highest court sitting in
Winchester -
WINCHESTER, Va.
Jan. 18th, '87.
Cdptdin Noses McFdrldnd:-
MY DEAR SIR:-Your kind remembrance, in
form of invitation from you and your most esti-
mable lady, to attend the camp fire of Co. A. sth
Vermont Regiment, is promptly to hand; and
could YOU but read my thoughts and know my
feelings on reading your letter, truly could you
saw those who are brave enough to fight, have
honor enou gh to forgive" are true enough to be
reconciled; and though (conscientiously) once
contending as foes, and in deadly conflict ar
rayed against one another in many, many, hOtly
contested battles, are as firmly re
united and more fully bound together as indi-
vidual and personal friends, and against each
other the Union and Southern soldier will learn
war nevermore, neVermore. Let dishonest men,
and those who know nothing of what you and 1
have borne Gor ''hOnOr's sake'') in the late war,
and what the Sth Vt Regt., and the Stonewall
Brigade underwent in that mighty struggle, cayil
as they may, the true soldier of the late war,
whether he wore the Gray or the Blue, was the
guintessence OF chiUatry, the soul Of honor, and
the agreement at AppOmattOx must and 1UiU
stand. Once foes, now friends. And as for us,
our artillery is packed, our muSketS are stacked
our sabres are sheathed, and no matter what our
circumstances are as to temporal things, we own
now, and will leave to our children, heritage
that gold cannot purchase. nor can the tongue Of
the defamer destroy, in this that their parents
were brave to defend and quick to forgive, and
were of those who shed their blood each for their
Respective causes. once we were divided. Now
again cross as enemies. But should foreign foe
be so foolish as to invade our Nations soil, you
and l, or yours and mine, will be found elbow to
elbow "breast to back" defending the flag
which is dear to us all.
Whilst am sorely against my will. deprived
VI IlAS piStbouAC VI bCllS WIN YOU, dCCepG Hly
grateful thanks for your Kind invitation, and may
God bless your home in the present new wear of
1887. Present my compliments to Co. A at your
campfire, and say to them that though corps
have dwindled into brigades, brigades into regi-
ments, regiments to companies, companies to
platoOnS, until in many places only small squads
are left, we have high claim on our Nation. We
stood first in war. now stand first in peace, and
first upon the Nations roll of honor. AS an hum
BILE but true type of Southern Soldier, send
greetings and ask that whilst Co. A is enioying
her campfire in Waterville, that the acquant-
anceS and fraternal feelings grown out of their
visit to our beautiful and historic Winchester
may be still fresh. With kind wishes to all, 1 am,
Your true friend
JOSEPH A. MUTTON,
Late Capt. Co. F. I'd Va. Infty
Stonewall Brigade, C. S. A.